The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-12
CHRISTIAN HOSPITALITY.
Yesterdays Sermon by the Rev. DR..
Dewitt Talmsge.
People who Outstny Their welcome
The Rewards OF Christisn Enter.
nment-Lessons Of History.
isrtoIAL TO ZEE ArPpIL.I


to hospitality" and bis discourse as
followe:
There 10 danger that the multiple.
cation Of large and commodious hotels
In cur towns, and cities, and Villages,
will utterly extermiDaie that grace
which Abraham exhibited when he
entertained the angels, aud which Lot
showed when he watched for guests at
the gate OF the city, and which Christ
recognised as positive requisite for
entering heaven when He declared:
81 was stranger and ye took Me in"
propose TO speak this morning Of
tho trials end rewards OF Christian
hospitality. The fret trial often
comes In the whim and eccentricity OF
the guest himself. There are great
many excellent people who have pro.
tuberances OF disposition, and sharp
edges oil temperament, and I'M
pliability OF character, which make
them o positive nuisance in any house
where taey stay. On ehort acquaint.
ance they will begin to command the
household Affairs, order the employees
10 unusual service, keep seasonable
hours, use narcotics In places Of
fensive TO sensitive nostrils, pu! their
feet at unusual elevations, drop the
ashes OF their Havana on costly
tapestry, open bureaus they ought
never 10 touch, and pry into things
they ought never 10 see, and become
impervious 10 rousing bells, and have
all the peculiarltles OF the german.
dinsr or the dyspeptic. and make OK.
cavaions from poor dentistry with
unusual implements, and In thousand
ways sfi ct the household which
proposes TO take care OF them. Added
TO all, they stay too long. They have
no idea when their welcome ie worn
out, and they would be unn owed even
by the blessing which my friend
Gerrit Smith, the philanihropist,
asked one morning at his breakfsi
table on the day when he hoped that
the long protracted guests would de-
part, saying: 10, Lord, bless this
provision and our fisnds who leave
as today" But, my friends, there are
alleviations TO be put on their side oi
the scale. Perhaps they have not had
the same refining influences about
them In early life that you have had.
Perhaps they have inherited co
centricities thai they cannot help.
Perhaps II Ia your duty, by example, TO
show them better way. Perhaps they
are sent 10 be trial for the develop.
ment OF your patience. Psrhaps they
were 10 be intended ~ an illustration
Of the opposite OF what You are
trying 10 inculcste In the minds
Of your children. Perhaps Il 10 10
make your home the brighter when
they are gone. When our guests are
CHEEKY and fascinating and elegant, II
10 very easy 10 entertain them, bat
when We 6nd In our guests that which
10 antagonistic 10 our tastes and senti.
ment, u 10 positive triumph when
We can obey the words OF my text
and be given 10 hospitality"
Another trial In the using OF this
grace is In the toll and expense OF
exercising II, In the well regulated
household things 20 smoothly, bat |
now you have introduced a foreign
element into the machinery, and
though you stoutly declare that they |
must take things ne they fnd thsm,
the Martha will break in. The nm.
governable stove. The ruined de ssert.
The Joint that proves 10 be M.
msticahle. The delayed market.
Ing. Toe perplexitlee OF caterer.
The difficulty OF doing proper
work, and yet always being present
able. rbough You may say there
shall ba no care or anxiety, there will
be care and tbete will be- anxiety. In
1894 the oapiain. general provided
veIy grand entertainment, and, am ong
other thinge, he had fountain la his
garden fountain VI strong drink.
In Il were four hogsheAds OF brandy,
eight hogahesds OF water, 5000
lemons, 1900 weight of Lisbon sugar,
Eve pounds OF grated nutmeg, 800
toasted biscuits, aud boat, built on
purpose, was place ! IN the fountain,
and boy rowed aTound II, nnd filed
the cups OF the people who came there
10 be- supplied. Well. you say that
was Injurious entertainment, aud,
o, eouu,, The man bad no anxiety (;
but, ! have 10 tell Won, that tholgh
you had, or nrlpooe, an entertainment
like that, you have anxiety. la that
very thing comes the divine reward
We were born 10 serve, and when We
serve oihere We serve God. The
hush IN that uOmEn's cheek, a.
she bends over the hot stove, Ia
~ sacred In Gods eigAt a. the flush
on the cheek n one who, on a hot
day, preachsa the gosp6l. We may
eefvn God with plate, and cutlery,
and broom AZ certainly - We can serve
Him with palm hook and liturgy.
Margaret, q Teen q Norway, and swe.
den aud Denmark, had q royal cup OF
ton lips, on which was recorded the
names OF the guests who had drunk
from this cup. And every Christian
woman has royal cup, GA which are
written all the names OF thoao who
have ever been entertained by her In
Christian etyle-names not cut by hu.
man ingenuity, but written by the
bend oi Divine Jesus. But, my
triends, you are not 10 toll ,unnecesa.
uly. Though the lafe be plain, cheer.
ial presidency 4 the table and clean.
liness OF appointments will DO good
enough i'r anybody that ever Gomez
% your house John Howard Was In
vited 20 the house Of Z
nobleman. he said: 81 vii
como on enc condition, and that Il
tina. you have no,hing bat potatoes on
the able" The rpqulsition VA com
piled with. Cyrus, King Of Persia
uuder the name circumstances pre-
sCnbtd bat on the table there niue
be- nothing but bread. o. course
these we're extremes, hat they are n
Illustrations Of tho fac. that more do
pCude upon The barqugters than upoI
the ba'qloL | want 10 llit this ideI
q Christian entertainment out Of I
positive bondage into a glorious Ia
cucononl Every ID jrt YOU put forth
ard every dollar you give TO the en-
tertainmon, II friend or Zoe, you civ,
directly 20 Christ suppose Il wer,
announced that The Lord Jesus Chris
would ooms 10 this place this week
vhai woman In this house would n 3
be glad 10 wash lor Him, or spread To-
Him q bed, or bake bread Tor Him
There was ono OF Old who washed io